JP3750750B2 - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

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Publication number
JP3750750B2
JP3750750B2 JP34569495A JP34569495A JP3750750B2 JP 3750750 B2 JP3750750 B2 JP 3750750B2 JP 34569495 A JP34569495 A JP 34569495A JP 34569495 A JP34569495 A JP 34569495A JP 3750750 B2 JP3750750 B2 JP 3750750B2
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temperature
level
drive voltage
recording head
voltage
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JPH09156128A (en
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康成 吉田
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Brother Industries Ltd
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Brother Industries Ltd
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Priority to US08/762,146 priority patent/US5774137A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04553—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits detecting ambient temperature
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04586—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads of a type not covered by groups B41J2/04575 - B41J2/04585, or of an undefined type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0459—Height of the driving signal being adjusted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04591—Width of the driving signal being adjusted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/145—Arrangement thereof
    • B41J2/155—Arrangement thereof for line printing
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S388/00—Electricity: motor control systems
    • Y10S388/923—Specific feedback condition or device
    • Y10S388/934—Thermal condition

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、インクジェットプリンタに関し、特に記録ヘッドの温度に応じて記録ヘッドの駆動電圧を段階的に切換える技術において頻繁な駆動電圧の切換えを防止するように改善したものに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
インクジェットプリンタは、インクカートリッジから供給されるインクを、インクジェットノズル群から噴射して印字する記録ヘッドを装備している。
記録ヘッドの作動時間が長くなった場合や記録ヘッド周辺の雰囲気温度が高い場合には、記録ヘッドの温度が高くなる。記録ヘッドの温度が高くなると、インクの粘度が低下するため各噴射毎のインク噴射量が増加し、記録される画像（文字や記号や図形等）の鮮明度が低下する。そこで、従来のインクジェットプリンタにおいては、記録ヘッドの周囲温度を温度センサで検出し、その検出温度に応じて記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧やパルス幅を制御している。
【０００３】
例えば、特開昭５７−４７６６６号公報には、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、記録ヘッドの周囲温度の増加に応じて徐々に小さくなる最小滴化電圧に対応させて制御する温度補償装置が記載されている。また、特開昭５７−１１６６５７号公報には、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動パルスのパルス幅を、記録ヘッドの周囲温度の増加に応じて徐々に小さくする温度補償技術が記載されている。
【０００４】
一方、本願出願人は、図５に示すように、記録ヘッドの周囲温度が温度しきい値Ｔｓ以下のときには、記録ヘッドの駆動電圧を第１レベルＶｄ１に制御し、温度しきい値Ｔｓよりも高温のときには、第１レベルＶｄ１よりも所定温度低い第２レベルＶｄ２に制御する技術を着想した。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記公報に記載のように、記録ヘッドの周囲温度に応じて記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧をほぼ無段階に制御する場合には、記録ヘッドの為の駆動系が複雑化する。記録ヘッドの周囲温度に応じて記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動パルスのパルス幅をほぼ無段階に制御する場合には、記録ヘッドの制御が複雑化する。
【０００６】
一方、図５に示すように、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、温度しきい値Ｔｓを境にして第１レベルＶｄ１と第２レベルＶｄ２とに択一的に切換える場合、記録ヘッドの周囲温度が温度しきい値Ｔｓの付近にあるときには、駆動電圧の切換えが頻繁に発生するため、記録される画像の途中から記録状態が急変し、画像の全体に亙って一様な記録ができず、記録した画像の見栄えが悪くなり、画像の記録品質が低下するという問題がある。
本発明の目的は、記録ヘッドの周辺温度に応じて、記録ヘッドの駆動電圧を切換える駆動制御において、記録ヘッドの駆動電圧の頻繁な切換えが発生しないようにすることである。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１のインクジェットプリンタは、インクジェットノズル群からインクを噴射して記録する記録ヘッドを有するインクジェットプリンタにおいて、前記記録ヘッドの周辺の雰囲気温度を検出する温度検出手段と、前記記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、前記温度検出手段で検出された温度が上昇中か下降中かを検知して第１レベル又は第１レベルより所定値低い第２レベルに切換え可能な駆動電圧切換え手段と、前記温度検出手段の検出信号を受け、温度が下降中のとき第１温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第 2 レベルから第１レベルに切換え、温度が上昇中のとき前記第１温度より高い第２温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第１レベルから第２レベルに切換えるように駆動電圧切換え手段を制御する制御手段とを備え、前記制御手段は、１枚の画像又は１つの画像の印字中は前記駆動電圧の切換え制御を行わないことを特徴とするものである。
【０００８】
駆動電圧切換え手段は、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、温度が上昇中か下降中かを検知して第１レベル又は第１レベルより所定値低い第２レベルに切換え可能であり、制御手段には、第２レベルから第１レベルへ切換え用の第１温度と、これよりも所定温度だけ高い第２温度であって第１レベルから第２レベルへ切換え用の第２温度しきい値とが予め設定され、制御手段は、温度検出手段で検出された検出温度を受け、温度が下降中のときは第１温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第２レベルから第１レベルに切換え、温度が上昇中のときは第２温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第１レベルから第２レベルに切換えるように駆動電圧切換え手段を制御する。尚、前記記録ヘッドの周辺雰囲気温度とは、記録ヘッド自体の温度または記録ヘッドの周囲の雰囲気温度を意味するものである。
【０００９】
従って、第２温度で第１レベルから第２レベルへ切換えられた場合、検出温度が第１温度に低下するまでは、第１レベルへの駆動電圧の切換えが実行されない。また、同様に、第１温度で第２レベルから第１レベルへ切換えられた場合、検出温度が第２温度に上昇するまでは、第２レベルへの駆動電圧の切換えが実行されない。そして、検出温度の変化は緩やかであるので、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧の頻繁な切換えが生じることがなくなる。しかも、前記制御手段は、１枚の画像又は１つの画像の印字中は前記駆動電圧の切換え制御を行わない。それ故、１枚の画像又は１つの画像の記録途中で駆動電圧が切換わることがなくなり、画像の記録品質を向上させることができる。
【００１０】
請求項２のインクジェットプリンタは、請求項１に記載のインクジェットプリンタにおいて、前記制御手段は、前記駆動電圧が第１レベルのとき温度の上昇を判断し、前記駆動電圧が第２レベルのとき温度の下降を判断した後、前記温度検出手段により検知した温度に応じて前記駆動電圧を切換えるように制御すること特徴とするものである。
【００１１】
【００１２】
【００１３】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態について図面を参照して説明する。
本実施形態に係るインクジェットプリンタ（図示略）は、黒色のインクで記録するプリンタであり、そのキャリッジには、黒色のインクを収容したインクカートリッジと、このインクカートリッジに接続された記録ヘッドであって例えば６４個のインクジェットノズルを有しこれらインクジェットノズルからインクを噴射して記録する記録ヘッドとが装備されている。
【００１４】
図１を参照してインクジェットプリンタ（以下、プリンタという）の制御系のうち本発明に直接関係する構成について説明する。
制御装置１０は、ＣＰＵ１１とＲＯＭ１２とＲＡＭ１３とを含むマイクロコンピュータと、外部のホストコンピュータから記録データを受けてＣＰＵ１１に供給する入力インターフェイス１４と、温度検出センサ２１の為の入出力インターフェイス１５と、記録ヘッド２０を駆動する駆動部１６とを備えており、前記ＲＯＭ１２には、後述の駆動電圧切換え制御の制御プログラムが予め格納され、ＲＡＭ１３にはその制御に必要なメモリ類が設けられている。
【００１５】
前記入出力インターフェイス１５は、温度検出センサ２１を駆動するドライバと検出信号をＡ／Ｄ変換するＡＤコンバータとを含むものである。前記駆動部１６は、電源１７から電力の供給を受けて所定の定電圧（後述の図２の第１レベルＶ１又は第２レベルＶ２）を発生させる電圧制御回路１８と、この電圧制御回路１８で発生させた定電圧の駆動電圧でまたＣＰＵ１１からの記録制御信号に基づいて記録ヘッド２０を駆動する駆動回路１９とが設けられている。電圧制御回路１８はＣＰＵ１１からの指令信号で第１レベルＶ１を指令されたときには、第１レベルＶ１の定電圧を発生し、また、第２レベルＶ２を指令されたときには、第２レベルＶ２の定電圧を発生させる。尚、電圧制御回路１８は、本発明の「駆動電圧切換え手段」として機能し、またＣＰＵ１１とＲＯＭ１２とＲＡＭ１３は「制御手段」として機能する。
【００１６】
記録ヘッド２０の温度を反映する温度として記録ヘッド２０の周辺の雰囲気温度を検出する温度検出センサ２１であって例えばサーミスタ式温度検出センサ２１が設けられ、その検出信号が入出力インターフェイス１５を介してＣＰＵ１１に供給される。
次に、駆動電圧切換え制御について、図２、図３を参照して説明する。
この駆動電圧切換え制御はプリンタの作動中には常時実行されるもので、図２に示すように、記録ヘッド２０を駆動する駆動電圧を第１レベルＶ１（例えば、３０Ｖ）と、この第１レベルＶ１よりも所定電圧（例えば、５Ｖ）だけ低い第２レベルＶ２とに亙って切換えるものとし、第１温度しきい値Ｔ１（例えば、２０℃）で第２レベルＶ２から第１レベルＶ１へ切換え、第１温度しきい値Ｔ１よりも所定温度だけ高い第２温度しきい値Ｔ２（例えば、３０℃）で第１レベルＶ１から第２レベルＶ２へ切換えるように電圧制御回路１８を制御するものである。
【００１７】
次に、この駆動電圧切換え制御のルーチンについて、図３を参照して説明するが、図中符号Ｓｉ（ｉ＝１，２，・・・）は各ステップを示す。
プリンタの起動とともに、この制御が開始されると、最初に温度検出センサ２１から検出温度Ｔが読込まれ（Ｓ１）、次にヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが第１レベルＶ１か否か判定され（Ｓ２）、Ｖ＝Ｖ１の場合（Ｓ２：Yes ）には、検出温度Ｔ≦第２温度しきい値Ｔ２か否か判定され（Ｓ３）、そのＳ３の判定がYes のときには、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを切換える必要がないため、そのままＳ１へリターンする。Ｓ３の判定の結果、検出温度Ｔ＞第２温度しきい値Ｔ２の場合（Ｓ３： No ）には、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを第２レベルＶ２に切換える制御信号が電圧制御回路１８へ出力され、電圧制御回路１８においてヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが第２レベルＶ２に切換えられ、その後Ｓ１へリターンする。
【００１８】
一方、Ｓ２の判定のの結果、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖ＝Ｖ２の場合（Ｓ２： No ）には、検出温度Ｔ≧第１温度しきい値Ｔ１か否か判定され（Ｓ５）、その判定がYes のときには、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを切換える必要がないため、そのままＳ１へリターンする。Ｓ５の判定の結果、検出温度Ｔ＜第１温度しきい値Ｔ１の場合（Ｓ５： No ）には、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを第１レベルＶ１に切換える制御信号が電圧制御回路１８へ出力され、電圧制御回路１８においてヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが第１レベルＶ１に切換えられ、その後Ｓ１へリターンする。
【００１９】
以上のように、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが第１レベルＶ１のときには、検出温度Ｔが第２温度しきい値Ｔ２より高くなったときに第２レベルＶ２へ切換え、また、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが第２レベルＶ２のときには、検出温度Ｔが第１温度しきい値Ｔ１より低くなったときに第１レベルＶ１へ切換えるようにしたので、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが頻繁に切換えられるのを確実に防止することができる。
即ち、第２温度しきい値Ｔ２は、第１温度しきい値Ｔ１よりも所定温度（例えば１０度）だけ高く設定してあり、記録ヘッド２０の周囲の温度も緩やかしか変化しないので、第１レベルＶ１から第２レベルＶ２へ切換え後も、第２レベルＶ２から第１レベルＶ１へ切換え後も、その後暫くの間は駆動電圧の切換えが実行されることはない。
【００２０】
それ故、１つ又は１枚の画像（文書や図形等）の記録の途中において、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖの切換えが実行されることは殆ど無くなるから、１つの画像の全体を一様に記録することができる。仮に、１つ又は１枚の画像の記録の途中においてヘッド駆動電圧Ｖが切換えられると、インクジェットノズルからのインク噴射の特性が変化し、記録状態が変化して画像の記録品質が低下することになるが、以上説明した駆動電圧切換え制御によりそれを防止することができる。
【００２１】
尚、前記実施形態においては、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを第１レベルＶ１と第２レベルＶ２とに亙って切換える場合を例として説明したが、図４に示すように、ヘッド駆動電圧Ｖを、温度しきい値Ｔ１，Ｔ２，Ｔ３，Ｔ４に基づいて、第１，第２，第３レベルＶ１，Ｖ２，Ｖ３に亙って切換えるように構成し得ることは勿論である。例えば、Ｔ１＝１８℃、Ｔ２＝２２℃、Ｔ３＝２８℃、Ｔ４＝３２℃、Ｖ１＝３０Ｖ、Ｖ２＝２６Ｖ、Ｖ３＝２２Ｖとする。また、駆動電圧を切換える代わりに、駆動パルス幅を切換えるように構成してもよいが、その場合電圧制御回路１８（駆動電圧切換え手段）は駆動パルス幅を切換えるものに置換えられる。また、３色又は４色のインクを噴射して記録するカラー記録用プリンタにも同様に本発明を適用し得ることは勿論である。
【００２２】
【発明の効果】
請求項１のインクジェットプリンタにおいては、記録ヘッドの周辺の雰囲気温度を検出する温度検出手段と、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、温度が上昇中か下降中かを検知して第１レベル又は第１レベルより所定値低い第２レベルに切換え可能な駆動電圧切換え手段と、この駆動電圧切換え手段を制御する制御手段とを設け、制御手段は、温度検出手段の検出信号を受け、温度が下降中のときは第１温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第 2 レベルから第１レベルに切換え、温度が上昇中のときは第２温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第１レベルから第２レベルに切換えるように駆動電圧切換え手段を制御し、１枚の画像又は１つの画像の印字中は駆動電圧の切換え制御を行わないように構成したので、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧の頻繁な切換えが生じなくなり、画像の記録途中で駆動電圧が切換わることがなくなり、画像の記録品質を向上させることができる。
【００２３】
請求項２のインクジェットプリンタにおいては、請求項１の発明において、前記制御手段は、前記駆動電圧が第１レベルのとき温度の上昇を判断し、前記駆動電圧が第２レベルのとき温度の下降を判断した後、前記温度検出手段により検知した温度に応じて前記駆動電圧を切換えるように制御するので、記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧の頻繁な切換えが確実に生じなくなる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態に係るインクジェットプリンタの制御系の要部構成図である。
【図２】ヘッド駆動電圧切換えの特性線図である。
【図３】ヘッド駆動電圧切換え処理のルーチンのフローチャートである。
【図４】変更実施形態に係るヘッド駆動電圧切換えの特性線図である。
【図５】先行技術に係るヘッド駆動電圧切換えの特性線図である。
【符号の説明】
１０ 制御装置
１１ ＣＰＵ
１２ ＲＯＭ
１３ ＲＡＭ
１５ 入出力インターフェイス
１６ 駆動部
１８ 電圧制御回路
１９ 駆動回路
２０ 記録ヘッド
２１ 温度検出センサ[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to an improvement in a technique for switching a driving voltage of a recording head in a stepwise manner according to the temperature of the recording head so as to prevent frequent switching of the driving voltage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ink jet printer is equipped with a recording head that prints ink supplied from an ink cartridge by ejecting ink from an ink jet nozzle group.
When the operation time of the recording head becomes long or when the ambient temperature around the recording head is high, the temperature of the recording head becomes high. When the temperature of the recording head increases, the viscosity of the ink decreases, so the amount of ink ejected for each ejection increases, and the sharpness of the recorded image (characters, symbols, graphics, etc.) decreases. Therefore, in the conventional ink jet printer, the ambient temperature of the recording head is detected by a temperature sensor, and the drive voltage and pulse width for driving the recording head are controlled according to the detected temperature.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-47666 discloses a temperature compensation device that controls a driving voltage for driving a recording head in accordance with a minimum droplet formation voltage that gradually decreases as the ambient temperature of the recording head increases. Are listed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-116657 describes a temperature compensation technique in which the pulse width of a driving pulse for driving a recording head is gradually reduced as the ambient temperature of the recording head increases.
[0004]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the ambient temperature of the recording head is equal to or lower than the temperature threshold value Ts, the applicant of the present application controls the driving voltage of the recording head to the first level Vd1 and is higher than the temperature threshold value Ts. The inventors have conceived a technique for controlling to a second level Vd2 that is lower than the first level Vd1 by a predetermined temperature when the temperature is high.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described in the above publication, when the driving voltage for driving the recording head is controlled steplessly in accordance with the ambient temperature of the recording head, the driving system for the recording head becomes complicated. When the pulse width of the drive pulse for driving the recording head is controlled substantially steplessly according to the ambient temperature of the recording head, the control of the recording head becomes complicated.
[0006]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the driving voltage for driving the recording head is selectively switched between the first level Vd1 and the second level Vd2 with the temperature threshold Ts as a boundary, the ambient temperature of the recording head Is close to the temperature threshold value Ts, the drive voltage is frequently switched, so that the recording state suddenly changes in the middle of the recorded image, and uniform recording cannot be performed over the entire image. There is a problem that the appearance of the recorded image is deteriorated and the recording quality of the image is deteriorated.
An object of the present invention is to prevent frequent switching of the drive voltage of the printhead in drive control for switching the drive voltage of the printhead in accordance with the ambient temperature of the printhead.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
2. An ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printer has a recording head for recording by ejecting ink from an ink jet nozzle group, and temperature detecting means for detecting an ambient temperature around the recording head, and driving for driving the recording head. Drive voltage switching means capable of detecting whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is rising or falling and switching the voltage to a first level or a second level lower than the first level by a predetermined voltage; and the temperature detection The drive voltage is switched from the second level to the first level on the condition that the first temperature is detected when the temperature is decreasing and the first voltage is higher than the first temperature when the temperature is increasing. And control means for controlling the drive voltage switching means to switch the drive voltage from the first level to the second level on condition that two temperatures are detected. The control means is characterized in that the drive voltage switching control is not performed during printing of one image or one image .
[0008]
The drive voltage switching means can switch the drive voltage for driving the recording head to the first level or the second level that is lower than the first level by a predetermined value by detecting whether the temperature is rising or falling. Is a first temperature for switching from the second level to the first level, and a second temperature higher than this by a predetermined temperature and a second temperature threshold for switching from the first level to the second level. The driving means is switched from the second level to the first level on condition that the control means receives the detected temperature detected by the temperature detecting means and detects the first temperature when the temperature is decreasing. The drive voltage switching means is controlled to switch the drive voltage from the first level to the second level on condition that the second temperature is detected when the temperature is rising. The ambient temperature around the recording head means the temperature of the recording head itself or the ambient temperature around the recording head.
[0009]
Therefore, when the second temperature is switched from the first level to the second level, the drive voltage is not switched to the first level until the detected temperature is lowered to the first temperature. Similarly, when the first temperature is switched from the second level to the first level, the drive voltage is not switched to the second level until the detected temperature rises to the second temperature. Since the change in the detected temperature is gradual, frequent switching of the drive voltage for driving the recording head does not occur. Moreover, the control means does not perform the drive voltage switching control during printing of one image or one image. Therefore, it is possible to Gana no longer, to improve the recording quality of image recording middle driving voltage of one image or one image switching switched it.
[0010]
The ink jet printer according to claim 2 is the ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the control means determines an increase in temperature when the drive voltage is at a first level, and controls the temperature when the drive voltage is at a second level. After determining the lowering, the driving voltage is controlled to be switched according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means .
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
An ink jet printer (not shown) according to this embodiment is a printer that records with black ink, and the carriage includes an ink cartridge containing black ink and a recording head connected to the ink cartridge. For example, a recording head that has 64 ink jet nozzles and ejects ink from these ink jet nozzles for recording is provided.
[0014]
A configuration directly related to the present invention in a control system of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) will be described with reference to FIG.
The control device 10 includes a microcomputer including a CPU 11, a ROM 12, and a RAM 13, an input interface 14 that receives recording data from an external host computer and supplies the recording data to the CPU 11, an input / output interface 15 for the temperature detection sensor 21, and a recording A drive unit 16 for driving the head 20 is provided. The ROM 12 stores in advance a control program for drive voltage switching control, which will be described later, and the RAM 13 is provided with memories necessary for the control.
[0015]
The input / output interface 15 includes a driver for driving the temperature detection sensor 21 and an AD converter for A / D converting the detection signal. The driving unit 16 receives a supply of power from the power supply 17 and generates a predetermined constant voltage (a first level V1 or a second level V2 in FIG. 2 described later), and the voltage control circuit 18 A drive circuit 19 is provided for driving the recording head 20 with the generated constant driving voltage and based on the recording control signal from the CPU 11. The voltage control circuit 18 generates a constant voltage of the first level V1 when instructed by the command signal from the CPU 11, and generates a constant voltage of the second level V2 when instructed by the second level V2. Generate voltage. The voltage control circuit 18 functions as “driving voltage switching means” of the present invention, and the CPU 11, ROM 12 and RAM 13 function as “control means” .
[0016]
A temperature detection sensor 21 for detecting the ambient temperature around the recording head 20 as a temperature reflecting the temperature of the recording head 20, for example, a thermistor type temperature detection sensor 21 is provided, and the detection signal is sent via the input / output interface 15. It is supplied to the CPU 11.
Next, drive voltage switching control will be described with reference to FIGS.
This drive voltage switching control is always executed during the operation of the printer. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive voltage for driving the recording head 20 is set to the first level V1 (for example, 30V) and the first level. Switching is performed over a second level V2 lower than V1 by a predetermined voltage (for example, 5V), and switching from the second level V2 to the first level V1 is performed at a first temperature threshold T1 (for example, 20 ° C.). The voltage control circuit 18 is controlled so as to switch from the first level V1 to the second level V2 at a second temperature threshold T2 (for example, 30 ° C.) that is higher than the first temperature threshold T1 by a predetermined temperature. is there.
[0017]
Next, a routine of this drive voltage switching control will be described with reference to FIG. 3, where reference sign Si (i = 1, 2,...) Denotes each step.
When this control is started together with the activation of the printer, the detected temperature T is first read from the temperature detection sensor 21 (S1), and then it is determined whether or not the head drive voltage V is the first level V1 (S2). If V = V1 (S2: Yes), it is determined whether or not the detected temperature T ≦ the second temperature threshold value T2 (S3). If the determination in S3 is Yes, it is necessary to switch the head drive voltage V. Since there is not, it returns to S1 as it is. As a result of the determination in S3, when the detected temperature T> the second temperature threshold value T2 (S3: No), a control signal for switching the head drive voltage V to the second level V2 is output to the voltage control circuit 18, and the voltage In the control circuit 18, the head drive voltage V is switched to the second level V2, and then the process returns to S1.
[0018]
On the other hand, as a result of the determination of S2, if the head drive voltage V = V2 (S2: No), it is determined whether or not the detected temperature T ≧ first temperature threshold value T1 (S5), and the determination is Yes. Sometimes, since it is not necessary to switch the head drive voltage V, the process directly returns to S1. If the detected temperature T <the first temperature threshold value T1 (S5: No) as a result of the determination in S5, a control signal for switching the head drive voltage V to the first level V1 is output to the voltage control circuit 18, and the voltage In the control circuit 18, the head drive voltage V is switched to the first level V1, and then the process returns to S1.
[0019]
As described above, when the head driving voltage V is the first level V1, the detection temperature T is switched to the second level V2 when the detected temperature T becomes higher than the second temperature threshold value T2, and the head driving voltage V is set to the second level V2. At the level V2, since the switching to the first level V1 is made when the detected temperature T becomes lower than the first temperature threshold value T1, it is possible to reliably prevent the head driving voltage V from being frequently switched. it can.
That is, the second temperature threshold value T2 is set higher than the first temperature threshold value T1 by a predetermined temperature (for example, 10 degrees), and the temperature around the recording head 20 changes only slowly. Even after switching from the level V1 to the second level V2 and after switching from the second level V2 to the first level V1, switching of the drive voltage is not executed for a while.
[0020]
Therefore, since the switching of the head drive voltage V is hardly performed during the recording of one or one image (document, figure, etc.), the entire image is recorded uniformly. Can do. If the head driving voltage V is switched during the recording of one or one image, the characteristics of ink ejection from the ink jet nozzles change, the recording state changes, and the image recording quality deteriorates. However, this can be prevented by the drive voltage switching control described above.
[0021]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the head drive voltage V is switched between the first level V1 and the second level V2 has been described as an example. However, as shown in FIG. Of course, it can be configured to switch over the first, second and third levels V1, V2 and V3 based on the threshold values T1, T2, T3 and T4. For example, T1 = 18 ° C., T2 = 22 ° C., T3 = 28 ° C., T4 = 32 ° C., V1 = 30V, V2 = 26V, and V3 = 22V. Further, instead of switching the drive voltage, the drive pulse width may be switched. In this case, the voltage control circuit 18 (drive voltage switching means) is replaced with one that switches the drive pulse width. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a color recording printer that records by ejecting ink of three or four colors.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to another aspect of the present invention, the temperature detection means for detecting the ambient temperature around the recording head and the driving voltage for driving the recording head detect whether the temperature is rising or falling and detect the first level or the first level. A drive voltage switching means capable of switching to a second level lower than the first level by a predetermined value and a control means for controlling the drive voltage switching means are provided. The control means receives a detection signal from the temperature detection means and the temperature is decreasing. In this case, the driving voltage is switched from the second level to the first level on the condition that the first temperature is detected, and the first driving voltage is set on the condition that the second temperature is detected when the temperature is rising . controls the driving voltage switching means to switch from the level to the second level, since during the printing of one image or one image is constituted so as not to perform the switching control of the drive voltage, drive the recording head Frequent switching of the driving voltage is no longer generated for recording middle driving voltage of the image switching switched that Gana no longer, it is possible to improve the recording quality of the image.
[0023]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means determines an increase in temperature when the driving voltage is at the first level, and decreases the temperature when the driving voltage is at the second level. After the determination, since the drive voltage is controlled to be switched according to the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means, frequent switching of the drive voltage for driving the recording head does not occur reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a control system of an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram of head drive voltage switching.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a routine of a head drive voltage switching process.
FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of head drive voltage switching according to a modified embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram of head drive voltage switching according to the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 control device 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
15 Input / output interface 16 Drive unit 18 Voltage control circuit 19 Drive circuit 20 Recording head 21 Temperature detection sensor

Claims (2)

インクジェットノズル群からインクを噴射して記録する記録ヘッドを有するインクジェットプリンタにおいて、
前記記録ヘッドの周辺の雰囲気温度を検出する温度検出手段と、
前記記録ヘッドを駆動する駆動電圧を、前記温度検出手段で検出された温度が上昇中か下降中かを検知して第１レベル又は第１レベルより所定値低い第２レベルに切換え可能な駆動電圧切換え手段と、
前記温度検出手段の検出信号を受け、温度が下降中のとき第１温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第２レベルから第１レベルに切換え、温度が上昇中のとき前記第１温度より高い第２温度を検出することを条件に前記駆動電圧を第１レベルから第２レベルに切換えるように駆動電圧切換え手段を制御する制御手段とを備え、
前記制御手段は、１枚の画像又は１つの画像の印字中は前記駆動電圧の切換え制御を行わないことを特徴とするインクジェットプリンタ。In an inkjet printer having a recording head for recording by ejecting ink from an inkjet nozzle group,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the ambient temperature around the recording head;
The driving voltage for driving the recording head can be switched to a first level or a second level lower than the first level by detecting whether the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means is rising or falling. Switching means;
The drive voltage is switched from the second level to the first level on the condition that the detection signal of the temperature detection means is received and the first temperature is detected when the temperature is decreasing, and the first temperature is detected when the temperature is increasing. Control means for controlling the drive voltage switching means to switch the drive voltage from the first level to the second level on condition that a higher second temperature is detected;
The ink jet printer characterized in that the control means does not perform switching control of the drive voltage during printing of one image or one image . 前記制御手段は、前記駆動電圧が第１レベルのとき温度の上昇を判断し、前記駆動電圧が第２レベルのとき温度の下降を判断した後、前記温度検出手段により検知した温度に応じて前記駆動電圧を切換えるように制御することを特徴とする請求項１に記載のインクジェットプリンタ。 The control means determines an increase in temperature when the drive voltage is at a first level, and determines a decrease in temperature when the drive voltage is at a second level, and then determines the temperature according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means. 2. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the drive voltage is controlled to be switched .
JP34569495A 1995-12-09 1995-12-09 Inkjet printer Expired - Lifetime JP3750750B2 (en)

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US5524993A (en) * 1993-10-06 1996-06-11 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Automatic print speed control for a barcode printer

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US5774137A (en) 1998-06-30
JPH09156128A (en) 1997-06-17

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